Delhi HC issues notice in plea to provide free laptop/ mobile phone with internet to EWS category students for online classes

The Delhi High Court has issued notice in a petition seeking the supply of free laptop/android mobile phone/iPad with high-speed internet to students belonging to the economically weaker section in order to enable them to attend online classes. (Justice For All vs NCT of Delhi) .Notice was issued to the Delhi Government, CBSE and other Respondents by a Division Bench of Justices Manmohan and Sanjeev Narula in the petition preferred by NGO, Justice For All. .It was the Petitioner's concern that more than 50,000 EWS/DG students who were studying in private unaided schools were unable to attend online classes due to non-availability of mobile phones/computers. .The Petitioner contended that the non-supply of computers/mobile phones to such EWS/DG category students was in violation of not only the provisions of Right to Education Act, but also Articles 21 and 21A of the Constitution of India..The children belonging to EWS category are protected under Artilce 21 of the Constitution for getting equitable quality education and the State is duty bound to provide all assistance to overcome financial barriers which were in the way of quality education, the Petitioner stated. .The Petitioner submitted that it was the duty of the Delhi Government to provide such devices along with internet to EWS/DG category students under Sections 8(c) and 8(d) of the RTE Act..The Petitioner also sought a direction to the Central Government to disburse its share of costs for construction of hostel buildings as prescribed under Section 7 of the Right to Education Act, 2009..After hearing the Petitioner, the Court granted two weeks' time to the Respondents to file their replies.. The matter would be heard next on June 10. .Advocate Khagesh B Jha appeared for the Petitioner. .Delhi Governemnt was represented by Standing Counsel Ramesh Singh..Central Government was represented by ASG Maninder Acharya with Advocates Pratima, Harish Vaidyanatghan, Ayush Puri, Jai Bhagwan Sangwal, Bhawna Kataria..CBSE was represented by Advocate Amit Bansal..Advocate Akhil Mittal appeared for North DMC. Advocate Harish Kumar Kinchi appeared for EDMC..Other Respondent schools were represented by Advocates Anil Grover, Siddharth Nath, Puneet Mittal, Anirudh Bakhru..Read the Order: